Friday, September 15 2006 12:21 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington D C: The US-India nuclear deal has just hit a four-month road bump. A top-level Capitol Hill source close to the US-India Civilian Nuclear Cooperation Agreement has told DNA that, "In all probability, the Senate may not take up the deal for discussion and vote in the current session of Congress."

The source said, "With mid-term congressional elections coming up in November, the nuclear deal is not high on the agenda for Senators who would want keep their constituents in mind and concentrate on homeland security, defence and other local issues. A deal with India is not a vote-puller."

The next session of Congress begins in January 2007. There might be a 'lame duck' session in November, but a congressional aide said that, that too might be to discuss local issues.

With just 15 legislative days to go for this year's session to end, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's press secretary Carolyn Weyforth has also confirmed that he is yet to put the deal on the agenda.

She said, "Senator Frist is still in the process of consulting with his colleagues about the timing and modalities for bringing the India legislation to the Senate floor in September."

The source told sources that Foreign Relations Committee chairman Senator Dick Lugarhas done all that he could to impress upon Senator Frist to introduce the legislation in this session.

She added that there could be no logical reason, only a political one, for the delay.

Sensing the Senate setback, the US India Political Action Committee, a 45,000-member Indian lobbying group, has dashed off a letter to key senators, including Frist, urging them to push the nuclear deal debate.

The letter, made available to DNA, says, "It will be a travesty if the (India) bill does not get voted upon in this session."